Thursday, March 05, 2009

Ugh and yay

I hate grading and evaluating. I just want to give everyone full marks for showing up. Life's too short to have someone tell you you suck and that you should work harder. Everyone is different anyway, so how is it just that I evaluate your skills, I mean I can't possibly know if the work you produce is good for someone like you since I'm not you. It's the same at the workplace. Sure there's room for improvement on everything we do, if there weren't, we'd cease being imperfect creatures and instead be gods. (Though even the gods, I suspect, are less than perfect.) I think the individual probably is far more aware of the places in his/her life that need improvement the most. This is true for me anyway. I really don't need you to tell me too.

I've figured out how to achieve chore harmony. He loads the washer and dryer, I remove, fold and put away. He loads the dishwasher and I remove and put away. I think he has the better deal, but at least I don't have to look at the sink and say "this is my job".

I am with David. Unloading the dishwasher is super easy, but folding clothes feels much more like a chore.

The grading thing is tough. I have even debated about moving to a "everybody gets the same grade" model of teaching. In the end, though, I think that grades can push people to exceed their first efforts.

We have a similar symbiotic relationship here. I do all the work around the house and yard and he makes sure that when I use my bank card, funds are available. Hello, 1952 called and said I don't have to burn my bra.

I disagree that most people are self-aware enough to know where they need improvement. I think most are blissfully ignorant of their flaws until they are pointed out. And grading something not only does that, but determines whether they are good enough to get the piece of paper that says they are good enough. I applaud people just for showing up and trying too, but sometimes that alone is not good enough.